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Things to do in Umhlanga
Umhlanga Rocks pairs a lively beachfront and its famous red and white lighthouse with nature reserves, good food and some of the best shopping in KwaZulu-Natal.
Walk the promenade to the lighthouse
The paved promenade runs along the top of the beach for a few kilometres, past the red and white lighthouse that has stood above the rocks since 1954. It is busy with walkers, runners and families from sunrise, and benches and lookouts give you views over the Indian Ocean.
Go early for the sunrise, which comes straight up out of the sea, or in the late afternoon when the light turns gold on the lighthouse.
Swim at the main beaches
Umhlanga’s main swimming beaches near the lighthouse have lifeguards on duty and shark nets offshore. Swim only between the flags, and take care around the rocks at low tide, which are good for rock-pooling.
The water is warm for much of the year, and the beaches stretch north towards Umdloti for long walks on the sand.
Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve
At the northern end of the promenade the Ohlanga River meets the sea at the Umhlanga Lagoon. Boardwalks and trails lead through coastal dune forest to the beach, with birds, butterflies, monkeys and the chance of a small antelope in the undergrowth.
It is one of the easiest places on the coast to step out of town and into indigenous forest. See our Umhlanga wildlife guide for what to look out for.
Learn about sharks at the KZN Sharks Board
The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, which looks after the shark safety programme along the coast, is based in Umhlanga. Check their website for public shows, talks and boat trips before you go.
Eat, drink and shop
The village around Lighthouse Road is packed with cafes, restaurants and bars, many with sea views. Afternoon tea or a curry lunch at one of the grand old beachfront hotels is an Umhlanga tradition.
Up the hill, Umhlanga Ridge has Gateway Theatre of Shopping, one of the biggest malls in the country, plus offices, hotels and restaurants around the Pearls and Ridgeside.
Day trips from Umhlanga
Umdloti and its tidal pool are about ten minutes north, and Ballito and the Dolphin Coast about twenty-five minutes further on. Durban’s beachfront and uShaka Marine World are about twenty minutes south.
King Shaka International Airport is roughly twenty minutes away, so Umhlanga is an easy first or last stop on a KZN trip.
Local businesses
Browse the Explore Umhlanga directory. Run a business here? List it for free as one of our founding businesses.
Questions people ask
Is it safe to swim in Umhlanga?
Swim at the main beaches near the lighthouse, between the flags and only when lifeguards are on duty. Shark nets protect the bathing beaches. Avoid swimming near the rocks and the lagoon mouth.
How far is Umhlanga from King Shaka Airport?
About 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic.
What is Umhlanga known for?
Its red and white lighthouse, the beachfront promenade, upmarket hotels and restaurants, Gateway shopping centre and the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve.
What is there to do in Umhlanga with kids?
The beaches and rock pools, the promenade, the lagoon boardwalks, the Sharks Board and the shops and activities at Gateway on rainy days.